June iiNews
editor's note
This month my hard drive put on a few extra gigabytes of memory fodder after I attended a wedding event of epic proportions.
Pretty much every floral pattern, drinks toast, dance move and bouquet was captured and stored in my iPhoto library. And this is where it would all normally stay, except things are getting a little crowded of late.
Taking a tour through my iPhoto library is not as scenic as it used to be. A stroll through my library now includes compulsory viewing of my "artistically" out of focus shots, photos of my thumb over the lens, my girlfriend eating breakfast, my dog looking at me from seven slightly different angles, a tree that looked particularly green one morning...
Now that I'm fully digital, the responsibility of taking carefully constructed shots is all but gone; the discipline now required is to go through, clean up, and organise my ever growing collection.
One way I've started to achieve some level of organisation is to set up a free flickr site. That allows me to get my good photos online into albums so I can easily share them with distant friends and relatives.
But for pure nostalgia and professional presentation, no matter how digital you are, you really shouldn't rule out the hard copy photo album. They make very thoughtful gifts (I'm told) and bring a new level of sophistication and context to your own collection.
I therefore encourage you to check out the feature story this month on photo printers, as a small amount of research before you buy can make a world of difference to the end product.
This month is big for News : phone line rental goes south with the new $29.95 home phone service Phone 1, and we have a June special offer for dialup upgraders. Also: Niaal reviews the Tolkien-inspired MMORPG Lord Of The Rings: Shadows Of Angmar in Entertainment , spam scams in Security Watch , and in Tech Tips we look at the hardware requirements for broadband.
Hope you enjoy.
Mark Welker
iiNews Editor
inbox
"You asked in the newsletter if you'd missed any favourite widgets. One very big one you missed was the Opera browser. It's supported widgets for a
while now, and they're also cross-platform. In fact, one of the most popular widget authors, Benjamin Joffe, is from Australia, and is featured on the front page of the Opera widget site."
- Michael, QLD.
"You should have listed the best widget of them all. The Vista widget that monitors your iiNet usage. It's an invaluable tool for making sure you still have full speed left on the last day of the month."
- Andrew
"I'm an iiNet client and I've authored 3 Dashboard widgets: TV Forecast , TV Countdown and Tomatometer. All three have previously been featured widgets on Apple's dashboard widget page with TV Countdown current ranked #12 in the top 50 and Tomatometer is going to be featured in this months iCreate magazine."
- Matt C
"How can you write a short article on Widgets and completely forget to include that Vista has widgets support directly in the OS and are turned on as default also to actively encourage the end user for adoption. A glaring piece of info left out of your article I feel."
- Mark B, NSW
"Hey guys, I LOVE using widgets, but you know what'd be HOT! An iiNet widget! Where you can see your volume usage from your desktop! God knows I'd be shaped less if I knew how naughty I've been."
- Corey NSW
This was a very popular question this month. The answer is Corey: a widget of sorts is in the works, but its release is still unconfirmed. In the meantime, there are unsupported versions of iiNet usage widgets making the rounds.
A quick search on Google for iiNet Usage Widget should bring up some for PC and Mac or scroll to the bottom of this page on Whirlpool. Please note that these widgets, however cool, are not officially supported by iiNet so we can't verify that the usage information they return are correct. So use at your own discretion.
"Hi Mark. You have me considering the HDTV / LCD monitor issue. So can you perhaps take this a bit further and explain what the hardware set up would be like with using the LCD instead of a TV or perhaps direct us to some information that does. Also I am curious about recording programs and using a Foxtel connection with this setup."
- Emrita L, WA
Emrita that is a big question to ask in a small space. In terms of a TV setup you would need a TV tuner for your PC or Mac to receive a TV signal. Then to record programs you need the right software and an electronic program guide like Ice TV. A word of warning, the speed of your computer plays a large part in your ability to view high definition television on your monitor, so tread carefully.
As far as Foxtel goes you could just connect your IQ box (if you have one) directly into your monitor via RGB cables, and connect it to a stereo to get the sound. The monitor I purchased ( Dell 2407WFP ) has a bunch of inputs so that it can accept a signal from pretty much anything (and it's super cool looking).
There are lots of other ways of doing this, so don't take my suggestion as gospel. A good resource for more info is the Australian Digital TV forum.
Send your newsletter views, news and suggestions to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au
news
reduced phone line rental
iiNet customers were recently delivered some good news when the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission made a decision that requires Telstra to reduce its wholesale price for line rental - that means iiNet residential customers now have an option for a $29.95 a month phone line.
Late in 2005 many iiNet customers will remember that we had a stoush with Telstra over phone line rental prices. At the time, Telstra increased the wholesale price of phone line rental, forcing up the price for many of our residential phone customers. We've been fighting against that price increase ever since. The new phone line rental has been built into a new phone product we call Phone 1.
Phone 1 has all the same great features of Phone Advantage including:
- $1.98 for 2 hours of chat to landlines anywhere, anytime in Australia;
- $1.98 for 30 minutes to any landline in our top 20 called countries; and
- 20 minutes of talking time to any mobile, anytime in Australia for $2.48.
In addition, Phone 1 has two important changes:
- Decreased line rental of $29.95
- Increased local call cost from 17c to 20c.
The increased local call cost unfortunately comes as part of the reduced line rental package - though as iiNet broadband customers already have access to 15c calls Australia-wide using VOIP - we think most will be happy with reduced line rental.
Decide for yourself whether Phone 1 is for you. All phone customers are free to stay where they are or upgrade at any time using toolbox.
If you're not currently using iiNet's home phone service, duck over to http://www.iinet.net.au/products/phone/ and find out why you might want to.
special offer for dialup customers
iiNet dialup customers who upgrade to broadband2+ or broadband1 transit on a 24 month agreement during June get connected for free. Saving you up to $79.95. And if you bundle with phone or VOIP, we'll also give you a free ADSL2+ modem. But only until 30 June.
To find out if you're eligible, head to our signup page and if our system offers you broadband2+ or broadband1 transit, the free connection offer will be automatically applied. Then add VOIP or Phone Advantage to get your free modem.
If you have any questions, or need help signing up, call us on 1300 300 835 and we'll step you through it. This offer also applies to new customers signing up to broadband.
VOIP survey
Have you made the shift to VOIP yet? Or are you still making up your mind? Whichever group you fall into, we'd love to hear from you.
By participating in our VOIP survey you can help shape the future of iiNet VOIP. All it takes is a few short minutes of your attention. You can access the survey here.
Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to complete it.
new ranking for Australian broadband performance
Last month, telecommunications analyst firm Market Clarity re-ranked Australia's broadband performance as high as sixth in the world, and at the same time, criticised the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) previous ranking of 17th in the world for broadband penetration.
The new research comes after 2 years of heavy criticism of Australia's broadband performance, by a number of parties with vested interests with the magic number 17 quoted extensively as a reason for change in the industry or regulatory regime.
As reported on Australian IT
, Market Clarity's report used a number of statistical scenarios to re-anlayse Australia's broadband performance, including raising the benchmark for entry level high-speed internet services from 64kbps to 256kbps, and using raw numbers to illustrate penetration levels.
It also examined a reporting method, endorsed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, that places countries with similar performance into bands to overcome the margins of error evident in the available data.
Market Clarity's new report stated that if their banding method was adopted, Australia's broadband penetration of 17.41 per cent would rank Australia in sixth place alongside France, Austria and Luxembourg.
The new report has attracted fierce debate. The head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Internet reporting arm is supporting the company's recommendations, while the OECD responded by describing the report as containing "serious methodological and factual errors".
Whichever side you swing towards, the OECD findings and the Market Clarity report do agree on one thing: while overseas internet users are given the highest possible internet speeds available to their equipment (with pricing determined by download volumes) Australian users still - on the whole - pay a premium for higher speeds.
Since 2004, we've been pushing up broadband speeds to as fast they can go; now broadband2+ is full speed no matter how much you pay. If we'd waited for one company with one network to increase broadband speeds then we would all be still be waiting to get a faster connection.
This is the primary reason we support more competition and better access for everybody to Australia's broadband network - it means the people of Australia get choices - they choose which supplier to use, they choose what product to buy and they choose the price they pay. None of this would be possible if Australia still depended on a single company for its Internet access.
If you'd like to know more about why we like competition, and what iiNet and other ISPs are doing to get Australia even further up the broadband performance rank, visit the T4 website at http://www.tellthetruthtelstra.com.au/
support & services
advanced mac support
We've always been more than happy to support Apple Mac customers through our contact centres, but this month we have upped the ante. We now have a specialised team of support staff dedicated to Apple Mac support. Each member of the team has received Mac OSX training developed and delivered by Apple. The training allows us to offer better Mac support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The new Mac team will be able to assist MacOSX users in setting-up their broadband or dialup connection as well as troubleshoot ADSL network functions in MacOSX. When calling us Mac users can now select an option specifically for their operating system.
Further online support for Mac OSX will be added in the near future.
tech tip
-
what you need for broadband
We get a ton of questions from people still unsure what exactly is required to connect to broadband. This month's tech tip should clear the air as we take a quick scan at what you'll need to make the switch.
- An active, connected full phone line - if you don't have a telephone line connected into your home, you won't be able to get broadband. If you need one connected, we can help you out - check out our guide here for more details on costs and timeframes to do this.
- A computer that is able to access the Internet - most computers are able to access the Internet these days, so this one shouldn't be a problem. If you're in doubt check with your local computer store for any hardware/speed requirements.
- A broadband modem/router - any brand will work, but to access the fastest speeds possible on your line, you'll want an ADSL2+ compatible router (our Belkins work a treat). Most routers come with the extra cables you need to connect to broadband - a phone cable, an Ethernet cable and the power cable (of course). If you want the freedom of a wireless connection, you'll also need a wireless card for your computer/laptop (many laptops have one built in) and a wireless broadband router. See our wireless support for more info.
- One ADSL filter per telephone device connected - our Belkin routers come with a free filter included, however if you have more than one device connected to your line (such as a fax machine or Foxtel) they will also need to be filtered. ADSL Filters block the "traffic" noise you would normally hear on your phone line if you didn't have them - this allows you to use your broadband and your telephone service at the same time.
- Central Splitter - this is optional and requires an Austel approved technician to install. A central splitter is only required when you have 3 or more telephone devices connected to the one phone line, or when you have a monitored alarm system.
- Finally, you'll need an ISP to provide you with your broadband service - that's where we come in!
If you have any other questions regarding the connection process for broadband, check out our getting connected page for more info.
frequently asked questions - wireless networking
What security risks are involved with a wireless network?
By default, your wireless network is open to anyone within range and with the right equipment. At the default setting, with no encryption set, your router will let anyone within range onto your network.
We strongly recommend that you take steps to help protect your wireless network against unauthorised use. For instructions see securing your connection or refer to your user guide.
Is it as reliable as an Ethernet connection?
In short, the answer is no. Wireless technology is susceptible to drop outs, where as Ethernet connections will not drop out unless their cables are defective or are removed. But for some people the convenience gained in many circumstances outweigh these reliability concerns.
Why is the signal strength low or dropping off?
There are many reasons why a wireless signal strength is low or experiencing interruption, one of the most common is the range of your wireless modem/router.
For the average home, the range of the wireless signal should not be a problem. Range is limited by the number of walls, ceilings, or other objects that the wireless signals must pass through. The key to maximising range is to follow these basic principles:
- Keep the number of walls and ceilings to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can rob your wireless product of between 3 to 90 feet of range. Position your wireless router and computers so that the number of walls or ceilings between is minimised.
- Try to position the wireless router and computers so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
- Keep your hardware away (at least 3-6 feet) from electrical devices that generate radio frequency noise, like microwaves, monitors, electric motors, UPS units, etc.
- If you are using 2.4GHz cordless phones or X-10 (wireless products such as ceiling fans, lights, and home security systems), your wireless connection may experience interruption or drop out completely. If you are experiencing difficulty achieving a connection, try turning these items off to see if it has any effect.
You may also try changing the wireless channel being used. In Australia there are 11 channels that can be used on wireless equipment. Each channel has a slightly different frequency.
Find out more about wireless networking by visiting our wireless support section.
security watch
top 5 viruses reported to Sophos in May
List provided by Sophos. Remember, all iiNet plans come with industry leading Sophos email anti-virus and Ironport spam protection that is automatically kept up-to-date with the latest virus threats. However, to fully protect your system, we recommend that you use our email anti-virus in conjunction with a personal anti-virus product such as those listed on this page.
fake Dell order email hits Australia
Sophos reports that a fake digital camera order spam campaign hit Australia late May specifically targeted Australian Internet users.
The emails claim to come from Dell stating that an order for an AU $805 Canon digital camera has been accepted and the recipient's credit card will be duly charged.
Visiting the link contained inside the email could potentially infect the user's computer with a malicious code or take them to a website designed to steal information for the purposes of identity theft.
Paul Ducklin, heady of technology Sophos Asia Pacific, says if users want to contact the alleged vendor or your credit card company, initiate the contact based on your own information, not based on what the email tells you.
"Go to a search engine, or type in the vendor's URL. This gives you a much better chance of getting to the real site and getting a real answer."
With targeted phishing attacks on specific countries and misappropriation of company communications on the rise, Sophos has launched a new early warning alert for the companies represented in such attacks.
Sophos PhishAlert gives companies early warning if their brand is being used inappropriately so that they can quickly respond to existing and potential customers.
feature story: photo printer buyer's guide
If you're anything like me then your collection of digital happy snaps is increasing so fast that sorting, viewing and sharing your freeze frame memories has become an overwhelming task.
Now that the "developing" part is out of the picture, the instant gratification of taking photos is great, but often the joy doesn't last long. Soon your maze of computer folders become what was once your dog eared photo album and even your best shots struggle for centre stage.
Sure you can get a flickr site (and you really should) but there is still something special about the tactile nature of holding a photo in your hands, or even better, finding its "frame mate" and placing it in your home.
As with all things in the digital age, someone's already thinking along the same lines and there are a number of ways that you can start producing hard copies of your memories quickly and cheaply. One of these is the photo printer.
With so many now on the market, this month we'll help you decide what's best for you in our photo printer buyer's guide.
Where to start
Brands. Epson is one of the founding fathers of home photo printers and has been winning awards for its Stylus Photo range for a while now. However, popular camera brands Hewlett Packard and Canon are quickly catching up.
Heavy competition between the brands means you can now pick up a photo printer for less than $200 that will do justice to pretty much any digital photo in your collection. In terms of equipment cost, there's never been a better time to ditch your darkroom and switch to digital.
However, it never stops at the initial purchase. The equipment is just the first piece of the puzzle and if you expect your memories to last as long as you (or longer) then there are a few more things to look at than just price.
Photo printer vs Inkjet
Don't get confused by the two. I'm using "photo printer" as a blanket term for any printer designed primarily for printing photos. However, "photo printer" is also a more technical description for a "photo only" printer that uses a dye-sub printing method. The dye-sub method uses a heated ribbon to transfer photos onto glossy paper. These dye-sub printers are harder to find these days, and normally are reserved for the smaller compact models as the printing mechanism is so small.
The reason why they are hard to find is because "inkjet printers" have come a long way over the last decade. For all intents and purposes, an inkjet is a photo printer, the main difference being the printing method used and the variation caused by ink quality. As the main type of photo printer that you'll find in shops is the inkjet, we'll focus specifically on them.
Nozzle size
Inkjets use tiny nozzles to shoot microscopic drops of ink at the page. The more expensive you go, the more nozzles you get and the harder it is to spot the dots. To be honest though, even the cheapest models around $100 - $200 would require a keen eye and a good magnifying glass to make out the dots. It's not that much of an issue anymore. Look for anything around the 1 picolitre level and your going to see some very nice prints for very reasonable outlay.
Resolution
Start comparing printer specs and you'll see a lot of competition and jargon in the resolution category. Printer resolution is measured by dots per inch and on your average photo printer, resolution maxes out at around 9600X2400dpi. Once again, printer resolutions have reached such dizzy heights that only the most observant will actually notice too much of an improvement with over 1200dpi. So don't get sucked into buying a printer with a massive resolution just for that reason - the finished print should always be your guiding light. And don't try matching your camera resolution to printer resolution either, they have little relation to one another.
Ink
Here is where the real difference begins. With ink you're looking at two things: the number of ink tanks and the quality of the ink. Inkjets have in the past been criticised for the short lifespan of their prints. These days, printer companies such as Epson, Canon and HP have spent bucket loads perfecting their inks for maximum life expectancy and the very best colour reproduction.
Most companies now say 30 years minimum and up to 100 years expected, but performance varies dramatically depending on what paper you use and the conditions you keep your photo(s) in.
A word on ink tanks, generally the more ink tanks the better the colour reproduction. This is a general rule but not an absolute. However the main reason why more tanks is more useful comes down to cost. If one printer has 5 small ink cartridges for each colour and the other has 2 or 3, chances are the second printer combines multiple colour inks into the one cartridge. If you run out of one colour ink, then you'll have to replace the whole cartridge, regardless of the level the other colours are up to.
More ink cartridges means less waste, and hopefully if the cartridge price is fair, cheaper prints.
Paper
Regardless of which photo printer you end up buying, your paper will ultimately be the biggest factor in the quality of your finished print. Photo paper is usually produced by the manufacturer of your printer and if longevity is a real concern, stick with your manufacturers own brand - it can make a lifetime of difference. You pay for quality, and most papers come in a range of stock:
- 50 sheets of standard quality 4inch x 6inch (for regular prints): approx $10
- 50 sheets of "plus" quality (4x6): approx 20-$25
- 50 sheets of "pro" quality (4x6): approx $35-$40
You can also buy these stocks in A4 size which generally gets you more paper for the same price, but lots of cutting out if you are just printing regular sizes. You can't beat the convenience of ready to print 4 x 6 paper.
Price
Home users and even "prosumers", can get away with spending as little as $250 for an excellent A4 photo printer that also handles general print jobs adequately. But when you're working out price, don't just base it on the cost of the printer itself. Consumables such as ink and paper are expensive enough that the overall price per print may well be higher on a cheaper printer than the model up.
Of course, it's unlikely that you'll ever get your per print cost below that of your local photography store. But photo printing at home isn't just about price, it's about convenience and having the ability to print your memories instantly whenever the mood strikes you.
Recommendations
There is a printer for everyone, but by doing a pretty extensive round of research, these three printers came up on top consistently. Take a Google tour and do your own research of course before you buy. The rule of thumb is that you should, if at all possible, take your own digital photos on a disc to your printer or IT shop and get them to print your photos out on the models you're considering. Your eye should be the best guide.
Home photo printing on a budget
Canon Pixma iP4300
Printer Price: $179
Ink Cost: 5 tanks @ $22.75 each
For professional level photos
Epson R2400
Printer Price: $1450
Ink Cost: 8 tanks @ $20.50 each
For multi-use
HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-One series
Printer Price: $350
Ink Cost: 6 tanks @ $14.75 colour and $27.50 for black
Related links:
Canon -
www.canon.com.au
Hewlett Packard -
www.hp.com.au
Epson -
www.epson.com.au
Photo Paper Longevity Research -
www.wilhelm-research.com
Apple's iPhoto -
www.apple.com.au/iphoto
Flickr -
www.flickr.com
Windows Vista Photo Gallery -
www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/photogallery.mspx
Got your own printer recommendation, or maybe something we've missed? Send in your suggestions to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au
Next month: The future of VOIP
iipeople
staff profile
Name:
Will Dowling
Title:
Associate Programmer
What does your current role involve?
Our team currently looks after all the customer-facing software (Toolbox, Signup, Website), as well as the internal knowledgebase (iiPedia). My work usually deals with changes to Signup and Toolbox, but I am currently working on some iiPedia changes to integrate it with our staff profiles a bit more.
What did you do before you came to iiNet?
I was working at a small medical software company based in Scarborough. As well as on-site support of our clients, I was responsible for maintaining our existing product(s) and developing new custom software solutions for clients.
What is the best thing about working at iiNet?
Absolutely the people here. Everyone is really easy to get along with and are quite happy to go down for a drink after work. iiNet definitely works hard to make sure people can be themselves.
Your favourite website?
I think my all time favourite (for now) is www.icanhascheezburger.com
- it's the definitive source for finding pictures of cats with captions... If you don't know what I mean, check it out and you soon will :)
customer of the month
Name:
Chris McCorry
Location:
Canterbury, VIC
Account type:
broadband2+ with phone
Customer Since:
2006
Describe your typical day of living online?
Well typically the day will begin with checking torrents left to chug overnight, some of those more obscure Linux ISO's can really take their time. Next off to start the day will involve reading up on all the tech and gaming news I can muster before breaking for a coffee and some brekkie.
After breakfast comes the obligatory morning gaming session with a few rounds of CS:S and/or BF2. Generally after this I'll check in on my favourite tech forums to see who is ranting and raving about what. I'll typically continue to browse with no fewer than 10 Mozilla tabs open, simultaneously checking forum posts, reading news, shopping on eBay for new gadgetry and searching for gigs on the weekend.
As you can might have guessed, all of this relies on a high-bandwidth, responsive and reliable connection otherwise I'd be forced to go out into "Real Life" more - which in my opinion is completely overrated.
The best thing about broadband for you?
The freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want to. I rely on the Internet for so much of my daily life that a good, solid, broadband connection is simply essential. I'm pleased to say that having tried a number of other services I have found iiNet ADSL2+ to be the best on offer.
I can browse, game and download simultaneously without being concerned if the connection will hold up. iiNet ADSL2+ is what broadband should be!
Your favourite site?
Probably overclockers.com.au
, it's the best local source of tech news and happenings with a huge community to boot.
Interested in being our next customer of the month? Send your details to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au.
competitions
domino CD giveaway
Domino Records have been pumping out independent releases for more than 10 years, picking up plenty of street cred on their way with artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and Elliot Smith signed to the label. We are big fans of Domino and big fans of those who go it independently so we're proud to support Domino's latest releases from Von Sudenfed, Fridge, James Yorkston, Junior Boys and Bonde Do Role.
This month iiNews readers have the chance to win one of 10 Domino indie packs featuring Tromatic Reflexxions from Von Sudenfed, The Sun from Fridge, Roaring The Gospel from James Yorkston, So This Is Goodbye from the Junior Boys and With Lasers from Bonde Do Role.
To be in the running for this prize, email competitions with "Domino Competition" in the subject line, and provide your username, full name and address by 5pm WST, June 28, 2007, along with the answer to this question: What is the reduced line rental of our new home phone service Phone 1? ( hint: you'll find the answer in the "news" section)
Check out all the Domino releases at www.dominorecordco.com/site/
i do tickets
I Do
is about as whimsical and infectiously romantic as French comedies come. Life is good for Luis (Alain Chabat). He's a soft-hearted 43-year-old Parisian bachelor, happily single, enjoys his job at a chic perfumery and is loved, cherished and pampered by his domineering mother and five sisters. The only problem with his adoring family is they want him to settle down and get married. Fed up with doing his laundry and shopping, they resolve to find him a spouse whether he likes it or not.
To halt the constant matchmaking, Luis hatches what he thinks is a fool proof plan. He will find the perfect woman, who will charm his family, exchange engagement rings... and then stand him up on their wedding day. After that, he will be so bereft nobody will dare mention the word marriage again.
To celebrate the release of I Do this month, Hopscotch films have 25 double passes destined for 25 iiNews readers.
To be in the running for this prize, please email competitions with "I Do Competition" in the subject line, and provide your username, full name and address by 5pm WST, June 20, 2007, along with the answer to this question: What new fruit related support team has iiNet recently added to it's list? (hint: you'll find the answer in the "support and services" section).
I Do
is rated M.
entertainment
2 minute games review - Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows Of Angmar (PC)
with Niaal Holder
An MMORPG is raw addiction, it's a drug. One should not wander into an online role-play scenario with anything other than the intention of losing their tan. An MMO is a time-sink, a life extractor fan, a stop-gap for an otherwise mundane real life existence. Pollyfilla for the soul.
But aren't they fun! Here we're going to review the latest and greatest way you can direct debit your life away into a stunningly rendered burrow of 'just one more level' online gaming. Lord of the Rings Online , take a bow.
It needs to be said upfront: there's not a huge amount here you haven't already seen. It's effectively World of Warcraft in a lovely new frock. Seriously though, don't let this discourage you from giving it a try - LOTRO is the Corey Feldman to WoW's Fred Savage. From the stunning landscapes to the deeper character development system, LOTRO almost appears proud to emulate WoW and go one-up in so many areas of the genre.
Starting out, I generated a Human Champion (damage-dealer) all kitted out to look like me, but with a kickin' rad porn moustache to woo the lady sprites. LOTRO even goes so far as to help you name your character in line with Tolkien's deep story lore - recommending linguistic prefixes and suffixes to build your name from. So it was with much pride that I set out in the lowly human village of Archet with my new character, Dagfarken the Wary.
As an ex-WoWhead, the interface was at once intimidating and all too familiar. Everything seems foreign, overwhelming, but in five minutes it's back to the old ways - ability bars, inventory bags, character sheets and skill trees. Once you make the connection that 'morale' means 'health', and that bloke with the lute is actually a healer, things fall into line smoothly.
Adventuring is now a little more interesting: alongside leveling and various familiar quest chains, LOTRO now ups the ante with it's 'deed' system, which pops up and tells you that what you just performed leads to certain character bonuses and stats if you do it, oh, say... another 1000 times. You don't have to do it, of course, but with so many carrots dangled, it's painfully addictive stuff.
On top of this, party play is even more accommodating. Characters can discover and use 'fellowship moves', which can only be executed in synch with other team members to powerful effect. On top of this, the 'looking for fellowship' interface itself is detailed and useful for building the right team for tougher quests. While it beats the knickers off WoW for ingenuity, admittedly it's still no Barrens chat.
And if I had to fault this gorgeous looking MMO, that's where I'd pin it - maybe it's just early, maybe it's just the license... but LOTRO is just way too nice. Everyone is polite, players say 'thee' and 'thy', and there's no opposing faction to gank. LOTRO welcomes you with a cheery handshake and a friendly pat on the rump. WoW welcomes you with five consecutive gankings in Southshore while a naked troll dances on your corpse.
I'd push this baby to anyone sick of the WoW grind, the EVE study schedule, or the sheer number of Germans on Guild Wars. It's a highly polished piece of gaming and a near-flawless debut.
movie review
-
Ocean's 13 - Rated PG
Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his team of too cool for school criminals are back, this time for a much more noble cause: revenge.
When one of Ocean's closest, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould), gets done over by casino meglamaniac Willy Banks (Al Pacino), Danny steps in to negotiate a truce. Banks wants nothing to do with it, and leaves Danny with no other choice than to call in the remaining 12 members of the gang for some revenge pie.
Ocean's 11 was an easy movie to like; full of clever one liners, a stylish cast of characters, cool music and a water tight heist that kept you guessing till the end. Ocean's 12 was more playful, had heaps of in jokes, a luscious setting and a overly complicated storyline that seemed to go for about 15 minutes too long. As a movie, Ocean's 11 was better, but Ocean's 12 was in a class of it's own when it came to style.
Ocean's 13 is a little from column A and B. Returning to Las Vegas is a good move - nobody throws around cash like the casino belt of the USA - and the one location makes it easier to follow the central heist plot. Number 12 seemed to meander around several locations, jacking in a few too many sub plots and side heists, making it difficult to follow. With 13, the central revenge plot is far sweeter and easier to digest.
Director Steven Soderberg ( Traffic , Solaris ) returns with the stripped back style he perfected with Ocean's 12 and it feels more at home than ever in Las Vegas. If it weren't for the occasional glimpses of special effects and the post millennium product placement, you could easily confuse some scenes in Ocean's 13 with the 1960 version of the original.
But it's Ocean's team that people really come back for. It's easy to believe that many of these actors might have returned to the franchise just to catch up and have a laugh between takes. Many of the jokes in the movie are quite subtle and definitely "in", and although sometimes the "banter" between characters gets a little too cool for school, it's easy to like these guys and side with them.
Pacino as Willy Banks, isn't so easy to like. But that's good thing. Banks is a much more restrained character than Pacino fans are used to, making for a much more rounded character. Complete with a Bahamas tan and ginger brown hair, he looks, acts and talks like a product of Las Vegas. It's a joy watching him get done over in the end, and as with all Ocean movies, the heist unfolds with plenty of clever surprises along the way.
Unfortunately for a good section of the movie the action doesn't flow so so smoothly. Things stall at around 30 minutes in as director Soderberg takes his time fleshing out parts of the plot he obviously couldn't figure out conventionally. Things do pick up again though, and I could feel the big smile on my face for the entire last half.
But it won't be a lack of plot or acting that will turn some off Ocean's 13 . It will be the in jokes. While not quite as self indulgent as Ocean's 12 , there are still a lot of scenes with Clooney and Pitt just looking at each other and winking.
Late starter, but a strong finisher. Another clever heist flick with oodles of style.
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